绿里奇迹(英文版)-第39章

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tentially　dangerous　circuit　had　been　broken。　I　told　you　that　in　my　time　in　E　Block；　the　governor's　line　never　rang。　That　was　true；　but　I　imagine　that　if　it　ever　had；　I　would　have　felt　the　same　relief　that　washed　over　me　when　Brutal　removed　Wharton's　hand　from　the　big　man　towering　beside　me。　Coffey's　eyes　dulled　over　at　once；　it　was　as　if　the　searchlight　inside　his　head　had　been　turned　off。　
〃Lie　down；　Billy；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Take　you　some　rest。〃　That　was　my　usual　line　of　patter；　but　under　the　circumstances；　I　didn't　mind　Brutal　using　it。　
〃Maybe　I　will；〃　Wharton　agreed。　He　stepped　back；　swayed；　almost　went　over；　and　caught　his　balance　at　the　last　second。　〃Whoo；　daddy。　Whole　room's　spinnin　around。　Like　bein　drunk。〃　
He　backed　toward　his　bunk；　keeping　his　bleary　regard　on　Coffey　as　he　went。　〃Niggers　ought　to　have　they　own　'lectric　chair；〃　he　opined。　Then　the　backs　of　his　knees　struck　his　bunk　and　he　swooped　down　onto　it。　He　was　snoring　before　his　head　touched　his　thin　prison　pillow；　deep　blue　shadows　brushed　under　the　hollows　of　his　eyes　and　the　tip　of　his　tongue　lolling　out。　
〃Christ；　how'd　he　get　up　with　so　much　dope　in　him？〃　Dean　whispered。　
〃It　doesn't　matter；　he's　out　now；〃　I　said。　〃If　he　starts　to　e　around；　give　him　another　pill　dissolved　in　a　glass　of　water。　No　more　than　one；　though。　We　don't　want　to　kill　him。〃　
〃Speak　for　yourself；〃　Brutal　rumbled；　and　gave　Wharton　a　contemptuous　look。　〃You　can't　kill　a　monkey　like　him　with　dope；　anyway。　They　thrive　on　it。〃　
〃He's　a　bad　man；〃　Coffey　said；　but　in　a　lower　voice　this　time；　as　if　he　was　not　quite　sure　of　what　he　was　saying；　or　what　it　meant。　
〃That's　right；〃。　Brutal　said。　〃Most　wicked。　But　that's　not　a　problem　now；　because　we　ain't　going　to　tango　with　him　anymore。〃　We　started　walking　again；　the　four　of　us　surrounding　Coffey　like　worshippers　circling　an　idol　that's　e　to　some　stumbling　kind　of　half　life。　〃Tell　me　something；　John　…　do　you　know　where　we're　taking　you？〃　
〃To　help；〃　he　said。　〃I　think　。。。　to　help　。。。　a　lady？〃　He　looked　at　Brutal　with　hopeful　anxiety。　
Brutal　nodded。　〃That's　right。　But　how　do　you　know　that？　How　do　you　know？〃　
John　Coffey　considered　the　question　carefully；　then　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　told　Brutal。　〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　boss；　I　don't　know　much　of　anything。　Never　have。〃　
And　with　that　we　had　to　be　content。　
6。　
I　had　known　the　little　door　between　the　office　and　the　steps　down　to　the　storage　room　hadn't　been　built　with　the　likes　of　Coffey　in　mind；　but　I　hadn't　realized　how　great　the　disparity　was　until　he　stood　before　it；　looking　at　it　thoughtfully。　
Harry　laughed；　but　John　himself　seemed　to　see　no　humor　in　the　big　man　standing　in　front　of　the　little　door。　He　wouldn't　have；　of　course；　even　if　he'd　been　quite　a　few　degrees　brighter　than　he　was；　he　wouldn't　have。　He'd　been　that　big　man　for　most　of　his　life；　and　this　door　was　just　a　scrap　littler　than　most。　
He　sat　down；　scooted　through　it　that　way；　stood　up　again；　and　went　down　the　stairs　to　where　Brutal　was　waiting　for　him。　There　he　stopped；　looking　across　the　empty　room　at　the　platform　where　Old　Sparky　waited；　as　silent　…　and　as　eerie　…　as　the　throne　m　the　castle　of　a　dead　king。　The　cap　hung　with　hollow　jauntiness　from　one　of　the　back…posts；　looking　less　like　a　king's　crown　than　a　jester's　cap；　however；　something　a　fool　would　wear；　or　shake　to　make　his　high…born　audience　laugh　harder　at　his　jokes。　The　chair's　shadow；　elongated　and　spidery；　climbed　one　wall　like　a　threat。　And　yes；　I　thought　I　could　still　smell　burned　flesh　in　the　air。　It　was　faint；　but　I　thought　it　was　more　than　just　my　imagination。　
Harry　ducked　through　the　door；　then　me。　I　didn't　like　the　frozen；　wide…eyed　way　John　was　looking　at　Old　Sparky。　Even　less　did　I　like　what　I　saw　on　his　arms　when　I　got　close　to　him：　goosebumps。　
〃e　on；　big　boy；〃　I　said。　I　took　his　wrist　and　attempted　to　pull　him　in　the　direction　of　the　door　leading　down　to　the　tunnel。　At　first　he　wouldn't　go；　and　I　might　as　well　have　been　trying　to　pull　a　boulder　out　of　the　ground　with　my　bare　hands。　
〃e　on；　John；　we　gotta　go；　'less　you　want　the　coach…and…four　to　turn　back　into　a　pumpkin；〃　Harry　said；　giving　his　nervous　laugh　again。　He　took　John's　other　arm　and　tugged；　but　John　still　wouldn't　e。　And　then　he　said　something　in　a　low　and　dreaming　voice。　It　wasn't　me　he　was　speaking　to；　it　wasn't　any　of　us；　but　I　have　still　never　forgotten　it。　
〃They're　still　in　there。　Pieces　of　them；　still　in　there。　I　hear　them　screaming。〃　
Harry's　nervous　chuckles　ceased；　leaving　him　with　a　smile　that　hung　on　his　mouth　like　a　crooked　shutter　hangs　on　an　empty　house。　Brutal　gave　me　a　look　that　was　almost　terrified；　and　stepped　away　from　John　Coffey。　For　the　second　time　in　less　than　five　minutes；　I　sensed　the　whole　enterprise　on　the　verge　of　collapse。　This　time　I　was　the　one　who　stepped　in；　when　disaster　threatened　a　third　time；　a　little　later　on；　it　would　be　Harry。　We　all　got　our　chance　that　night；　believe　me。　
I　slid　in　between　John　and　his　view　of　the　chair；　standing　on　my　tiptoes　to　make　sure　I　was　pletely　blocking　his　sight…line。　Then　I　snapped　my　fingers　in　front　of　his　eyes；　twice；　sharply。　
〃e　on！〃　I　said。　〃Walk！　You　said　you　didn't　need　to　be　chained；　now　prove　it！　Walk；　big　boy！　Walk；　John　Coffey！　Over　there！　That　door！〃　
His　eyes　cleared。　〃Yes；　boss。〃　And　praise　God；　he　began　to　walk。　
〃Look　at　the　door；　John　Coffey；　just　at　the　door　and　nowhere　else。〃　
〃Yes；　boss。〃　John　fixed　his　eyes　obediently　on　the　door。　
〃Brutal；〃　I　said；　and　pointed。　
He　hurried　in　advance；　shaking　out　his　keyring；　finding　the　right　one。　John　kept　his　gaze　fixed　on　the　door　to　the　tunnel　and　I　kept　my　gaze　fixed　on　John；　but　from　the　er　of　one　eye　I　could　see　Harry　throwing　nervous　glances　at　the　chair；　as　if　he　had　never　seen　it　before　in　his　life。　
There　are　pieces　of　them　still　in　there　。。。　I　hear　them　screaming。　
If　that　was　true；　then　Eduard　Delacroix　had　to　be　screaming　longest　and　loudest　of　all；　and　I　was　glad　I　couldn't　hear　what　John　Coffey　did。　
Brutal　opened　the　door。　We　went　down　the　stairs　with　Coffey　in　the　lead。　At　the　bottom；　he　looked　glumly　down　the　tunnel；　with　its　low　brick　ceiling。　He　was　going　to　have　a　crick　in　his　back　by　the　time　we　got　to　the　other　end；　unless　…　I　pulled　the　gurney　over。　The　sheet　upon　which　we'd　laid　Del　had　been　stripped　（and　probably　incinerated）；　so　the　gurney's　black　leather　pads　were　visible。　〃Get　on；〃　I　told　John。　He　looked　at　me　doubtfully；　and　I　nodded　encouragement。　〃It'll　be　easier　for　you　and　no　harder　for　us。〃　
〃Okay；　Boss　Edgebe。〃　He　sat　down；　then　lay　back；　looking　up　at　us　with　worried　brown　eyes。　His　feet；　clad　in　cheap　prison　slippers；　dangled　almost　all　the　way　to　the　floor。　Brutal　got　in　between　them　and　pushed　John　Coffey　along　the　dank　corridor　as　he　had　pushed　so　many　others。　The　only　difference　was　that　the　current　rider　was　still　breathing。　About　halfway　along　…　under　the　highway；　we　would　have　been；　and　able　to　hear　the　muffled　drone　of　passing　cars；　had　there　been　any　at　that　hour　…　John　began　to　smile。　〃Say；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　fun。〃　He　wouldn't　think　so　the　next　time　he　rode　the　gurney；　that　was　the　thought　which　crossed　my　mind。　In　fact；　the　next　time　he　rode　the　gurney；　he　wouldn't　think　or　feel　anything。　Or　would　he？　There　are　pieces　of　them　still　in　there；　he　had　said；　he　could　hear　them　screaming。　
Walking　behind　the　others　and　unseen　by　them；　I　shivered。　
〃I　hope　you　remembered　Aladdin；　Boss　Edgebe；〃　Brutal　said　as　we　reached　the　far　end　of　the　tunnel。　
〃Don't　worry；〃　I　said。　Aladdin　looked　no　different　from　the　other　keys　I　carried　in　those　days　…　and　I　had　a　bunch　that　must　have　weighed　four　pounds　…　but　it　was　the　master　key　of　master　keys；　the　one　that　opened　everything。　There　was　one　Aladdin　key　for　each　of　the　five　cellblocks　in　those　days；　each　the　property　of　the　block　super。　Other　guards　could　borrow　it；　but　only　the　bull…goose　screw　didn't　have　to　sign　it　out。　
There　was　a　steel…barred　gate　at　the　far　end　of　the　tunnel。　It　always　reminded　me　of　pictures　I'd　seen　of　old　castles；　you　know；　in　days　of　old　when　knights　were　bold　and　chivalry　was　in　flower。　Only　Cold　Mountain　was　a　long　way　from　Camelot。　Beyond　the　gate；　a　flight　of　stairs　led　up　to　an　unobtrusive　bulkhead…style　door　with　signs　reading　No　TRESPASSING　and　STATE　PROPERTY　and　ELECTRIFIED　WIRE　on　the　outside。　
I　opened　the　gate　and　Harry　swung　it　back。　We　went　up；　John　Coffey　once　more　in　the　lead；　shoulders　slumped　and　head　bent。　At　the　top；　Harry　got　around　him　（not　without　some　difficulty；　either；　although　he　was　the　smallest　of　the　three　of　us）　and　unlocked　the　bulkhead。　It　was　heavy。　He　could　move　it；　but　wasn't　able　to　flip　it　up。　
〃Here；　boss；〃　John　said。　He　pushed　to　the　front　again　…bumping　Harry　into　the　wall　with　one　hip　as　he　did　so　…　and　raised　the　bulkhead　with　one　hand。　
You　would　have　thought　it　was　painted　cardboard　instead　of　sheet　steel。　
Cold　night　air；　moving　with　the　ridge…running　wind　we　would　now　get　most　of　the　time　until　March　or　April；　blew　down　into　our　faces。　A　swirl　of　dead　leaves　came　with　it；　and　John　Coffey　caught　one　of　them　with　his　free　hand。　I　will　never　forget　the　way　he　looked　at　it；　or　how　he　crumpled　it　beneath　his　broad；　handsome　nose　so　it　would　release　its　smell。　
〃e　on；〃　Brutal　said。　〃Let's　go；　forward　harch。〃　
We　climbed　out。　John　lowered　the　bulkhead　and　Brutal　locked　it　…　no　need　for　the　Aladdin　key　on　this　door；　but　it　was　needed　to　unlock　the　gate　in　the　pole…and…wire　cage　which　surrounded　the　bulkhead。　
〃Hands　to　your　sides　while　you　go　through；　big　fella；〃　Harry　murmured。　〃Don't　touch　the　wire；　if　you　don't　want　a　nasty　bum。〃　
Then　we　were　clear；　standing　on　the　shoulder　of　the　road　in　a　little　cluster　（three　foothills　around　a　mountain　is　what　I　imagine　we　looked　like）；　staring　across　at　the　walls　and　lights　and　guard…towers　of　Cold　Mountain　Penitentiary。　I　could　actually　see　the　vague　shape　of　a　guard　inside　one　of　those　towers；　blowing　on　his　hands；　but　only　for　a　moment；　the　road…facing　windows　in　the　towers　were　small　and　unimportant。　Still；　we　would　have　to　be　very；　very　quiet。　And　if　a　car　did　e　along　now；　we　could　be　in　deep　trouble。　
〃e　on；〃　I　whispered。　〃Lead　the　way；　Harry。〃　
We　slunk　north　along　the　highway　in　a　little　congaline；　Harry　first；　then　John　Coffey；　then　Brutal；　then　me。　We　breasted　the　first　rise　and　walked　down　the　other　side；　where　all　we　could　see　of　the　prison　was　the　bright　glow　of　the　lights　in　the　tops　of　the　trees。　And　still　Harry　led　us　onward。　
〃Where'd　you　park　it？〃　Brutal　stage…whispered；　vapor　puffing　from　his　mouth　in　a　white　cloud。　〃Baltimore？〃　
〃It's　right　up　ahead；〃　Harry　replied；　sounding　nervous　and　irritable。　〃Hold　your　damn　water；　Brutus。〃　
But　Coffey；　from　what　I'd　seen　of　him；　would　have　been　happy　to　walk　until　the　sun　came　up；　maybe　until　it　went　back　down　again。　He　looked　everywhere；　starting　…　not　in　fear　but　in　delight；　I　am　quite　sure　…　when　an　owl　hoo'd。　It　came　to　me　that；　while　he　might　be　afraid　of　the　dark　inside；　he　wasn't　afraid　of　it　out　here；　not　at　all。　He　was　caressing　the　night；　rubbing　his　senses　across　it　the　way　a　man　might　rub　his　face　across　the　swells　and　concavities　of　a　woman's　breasts。　
〃We　turn　here；〃　Harry　muttered。　
A　little　finger　of　road　…　narrow；　unpaved；　weeds　running　up　the　center　crown…angled　off　to　the　right。　We　turned　up　this　and　ile。　Brutal　was　beginning　to　grumble　again　when　Harry　stopped；　went　to　the　left　side　of　the　track；　and　began　to　remove　sprays　of　broken…off　pine　boughs。　John　and　Brutal　pitched　in；　and　before　I　could　join　them；　they　had　uncovered　the　dented　snout　of　an　old　Farmall　truck；　its　wired…on　headlights　staring　at　us　like　buggy　eyes。　
〃I　wanted　to　be　as　careful　as　I　could；　you　know；〃　Harry　said　to　Brutal　in　a　thin；　scolding　voice。　〃This　may　be　a　big　joke　to　you；　Brutus　Howell；　but　I　e　from　a　very　religious　family；　I　got　cousins　back　in　the　hollers　so　damn　holy　they　make　the　Christians　look　like　lions；　and　if　I　get　caught　playing　at　something　like　this…！〃　
〃It's　okay；〃　Brutal　said。　〃I'm　just　jumpy；　that's　all。〃　
〃Me　too；〃　Harry　said　stiffly。　〃Now　if　this　cussed　old　thing　will　just　start…〃　
He　walked　around　the　hood　of　the　truck；　still　muttering；　and　Brutal　tipped　me　a　wink。　As　far　as　Coffey　was　concerned；　we　had　ceased　to　exist。　His　head　was　tilted　back　and　he　was　drinking　in　the　sight　of　the　stars　sprawling　across　the　sky。　
〃I'll　ride　in　back　with　him；　if　you　want；〃　Brutal　offered。　Behind　us；　the　Farmall's　starter　whined　briefly；　sounding　like　an　old　dog　trying　to　find　its　feet　on　a　cold　winter　morning；　then　the　engine　exploded　into　life。　Harry　raced　it　once　and　let　it　settle　into　a　ragged　idle。　〃No　need　for　both　of　us　to　do　it。〃　
〃Get　up　front；〃　I　said。　〃You　can　ride　with　him　on　the　return　trip。　If　we　don't　end　up　making　that　one　locked　into　the　back　of　our　own　stagecoach；　that　is。〃　
〃Don't　talk　that　way；〃　he　said；　looking　genuinely　upset。　It　was　as　if　he　had　realized　for　the　first　time　how　serious　this　would　be　for　us　if　we　were　caught。　〃Christ；　Paul！〃　
〃Go　on；〃　I　said。　〃In　the　cab。〃　
He　did　as　he　was　told。　I　yanked　on　John　Coffey's　arm　until　I　could　get　his　attention　back　to　earth　for　a　bit；　then　led　him　around　to　the　rear　of　the　truck；　which　was　stake…sided。　Harry　had　draped　canvas　over　the　posts；　and　that　would